640,000 Affected by Floods Mozambique

Severe flooding across Mozambique has affected more than 640,000 people, according to local authorities, as vast areas of the country remain submerged and concerns grow over hunger and disease outbreaks.

Floodwaters have inundated the provincial capital of Xai-Xai, with Africa News reporting on Sunday that the scale of displacement is putting intense pressure on emergency services. Authorities are coordinating closely with the National Institute for Disaster Management to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable communities.

Candido Maputo, a regional director at the agency, said that more than 10,000 people arrived at an evacuation center in less than 24 hours, underscoring the urgent need to expand shelters, boost food supplies, and increase access to medical assistance.

In Limpopo province, the floods have had their greatest impact on agricultural land. Virgilio Muchanga, the area’s administrative official, said authorities had rescued around 40 people as rising waters cut off rural communities.

Humanitarian agencies warn that extreme weather conditions have destroyed crops relied upon by millions of small-scale farmers for food, heightening the risk of food insecurity. Waterborne diseases such as cholera are also a major concern in the aftermath of widespread flooding.

Weeks of heavy rainfall across southern Africa have triggered some of the worst floods seen in years, affecting parts of Mozambique as well as neighboring Zimbabwe and South Africa.